rees@pisa.citi.umich.edu (Jim Rees) (03/29/91)
This has nothing to do with CPM, but I understand you guys are the experts on floppy drives. I've got a computer (Apollo dn330) that has an 8 inch floppy drive that I want to change to a 5 inch. The 8 inch has a capacity of 1.2 Mb, something like a st506 interface (sa850?), and a 50 pin card-edge connector. I've got pinouts for the 50-pin and also for the 34-pin connector used by the 5 inch drives. I'm told that the rotational speed is the same, and I know the sector layout is the same, so I'm assuming that bit rates and signal timings will just fall out for free. 1. Will this work? 2. Is there any chance this will just plug-n-play, or will I have to muck around with the device driver in the OS? 3. What do I do with pin 2 (density) on the 34-pin? I assume tie it high or low -- which is it? 4. What about pin 16, motor-on? Should I tie this high or low, or tie it to pin 4, head-load? 5. What is pin 2 on the 50-pin, RWC? What should I do with it? 6. Any tips on shopping for a 5 inch drive? Will any drive with the 34-pin (sa450?) connector work, as long as it's a 1.2 Meg drive? How much should a floppy cost? The local repair shop has one for US $60, is that OK?
Sprague.Wbst311@XEROX.COM (04/04/91)
Jim Rees, I wrote a long note replying to your question, but can't seem to send it to you. The address in the "From" field is to long for my Mail Tool, and when I tried sending to what I thought it really was, it bounced with an unknown name. Send me your Internet address, and I will resend the message. For everyone else, Since there are a lot of different networks connected up here, please include your address in your messages, so that others can much more easily contact you if needed. It's not always obvious. ~ Mike (Sprague.Wbst311@Xerox.Com)